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Freeland Tanner ’s roots run deeply in this 1 - acre holding nest in Napa Valley , where propagation of his family have walk the demesne . As you wander through the garden beneath the towering trees plant by his female parent and grandfather ten ago , you may almost hear the rustle of the past mingling with the vivacious DOE of today . But it was n’t until 1987 , when Freeland and his wife , Sabrina , began build their first home here , that the garden blossomed into the paradise it is now .
Freeland and Sabrina ’s garden is a fiesta for the senses , with a vast regalia of plants absolutely placed to spotlight their best tone . This garden is a plant gatherer ’s dream , fill up with pabulum , succulent , tropicals , sometime stalwarts with new and cutting - edge sort , perennials , bulbs , and curio you ’ve only take about ! And sparge throughout are Freeland ’s unbelievable graphics and structure , come together to create an experience like none other .
Although Freeland and Sabrina are celebrated landscape painting designers , this is their personal garden , where their pump and imaginations freely roam . In this garden , they experiment with unexpected plant conjugation , reimaginetraditional design principle , and create sinful , deeply personal esthetic structures that are out - of - this - world yet feel dead at home . And because this garden is so wanted to them , they tend to it with their own hands ( no team of nurseryman here ! ) , pouring their love and creativity into every square inch .
Having had the pleasance of chew the fat this garden many times over the years , in every time of year , I ’d wish to deal some of the magic that makes it so special and how you might bring a cutaneous senses of that fascination into your own garden .
1. HAVE FUN WITH COLOR
Specific colors , like chartreuse and purple , weave throughout the garden , creating a sentiency of continuity and a unifying flow among the unlike spaces . These " colour echo " play like a typewriter ribbon , seamlessly tie together the discrete garden beds and tranquillise any potential visual clutter . However , overuse of repetition can lead to predictability and sameness in the garden .
The easy peachy-colored tones ofBerberis‘Orange Rocket’,Geum‘Tangerine Dream ’ , and ‘ Lady of Shalott ’ rosiness attractively harmonize with one another , creating a ardent and inviting color palette . Together , they form a visually cohesive grouping that draw the eye and adds a sense of continuity to the garden bed . This combination of colors and textures adds depth and richness , make the garden feel both dynamic and serene .
To keep the garden from appear predictable , Sabrina , with her keen eye for color , tally unexpected soda water of contrasting and complementary color , bringing moment of delightful surprisal . A perfect example is Cluck ’s Garden , named after their dear hen whose chicken coop was in this expanse . Shades of terra - cotta , soft Orange River , and pale peach predominate and create a ardent and inviting palette .
2. CELEBRATE THE ‘SOUL’ OF YOUR GARDEN
In this part of the garden , Freeland lovingly build what he calls ‘ Sabrina ’s Temple’—a private place to call her own , filled with her favorite wanted heirloom and garden treasures . Whimsy abounds in this garden , as seen in Freeland ’s extensive collection of demode sprinkler repurposed into unique garden art , adding a playful touch to the landscape painting .
In addition to being a skilled garden designer , Freeland is an established artist , creating some of the most breathless garden artistic creation and structures I ’ve ever seen . When showcasing his artwork and structures , Freeland relies on Sabrina ’s aid to finesse the final placement within the garden . This is another mode they add their personal touches , breathing life into the space and give the garden its soul . While not everyone can craft art for their garden , incorporating personal touches makes a garden truly unique and memorable . Why not use your garden to display personal collections , commemorate a special trip , or honor a loved one ? With thoughtful integration , art and plant transform a garden into a powerful reflection of who you are .
3. MIXING EDIBLES AND ORNAMENTALS
In this eatable bottom , crimson orach ( Atriplex hortensis ) , which has a taste and texture standardized to spinach , and frilly Petroselinum crispum produce a lush , textured background for the vibrant old maid that interlard among them . The zinnias , with their warm shades of Bourgogne and orangish , fit in with the fat colors of the orache leaves , make a bed that ’s both productive and picturesque .
Growing pabulum is another of Sabrina ’s passions , whether she get down from seeds or young plant . When selecting which edibles to grow , she looks for more than just fantastic taste ; she seek out smorgasbord with unique foliage textures , colors , or form that can seamlessly combine into the exist garden beds . Herbs and vegetables happily blend with ornamental , non - comestible plants , sum a creative braid to traditional gardening ( seeAiming for Aesthetic Edibles ) . This approach maximise space while lend layers of sake and complexness to the garden ’s design . It ’s a rattling idea , peculiarly for those without room for a consecrate vegetable garden . Mixing edibles and ornamental in a single planting bed allows you to make a visually sensational garden with the tot up benefit of providing fresh , homegrown produce . This combination of beauty and practicality is perfect for those who desire their garden to be as rich as they are beautiful .
4. CARVING OUT INTIMATE SPACES
An pergola built by Freeland is the perfect support for a profusion of fragrant climb rose , their scent filling the air . This calm spot is intimately enjoyed by seat on the nearby work bench , where you could fully appreciate the stunner and aroma of the roses cascade overhead , make a peaceful and invite retreat within the garden .
Intimate blank space are thoughtfully placed throughout the Tanner garden , offering a mixed bag of cozy spots for relaxation and rumination . These spaces range from witching outdoor structures with a bench just for two , to a discreetly put summerhouse , or even something as simple as two chair tuck aside in a still corner . For the Tanners , it ’s essential to have these pockets of tranquility where one can pause , even for a moment , and fully engulf themselves in the garden ’s beauty . This approach serves as a valuable lesson for all nurseryman , disregardless of the size of it of their garden . By incorporating such versed spaces , you add depth and grapheme to the garden and a sense of mystery and breakthrough . Creating these special spot enhance the garden experience , make it a more personal and engaging distance .
5. BE BOLD WITH FOLIAGE
This vibrant combining of foliage showcases a rich arras of colors , include maroon , blue , yellow green , variegated patterns , and lush green . The colors are further enhanced by contrasting shapes and textures — long and sparse leaves , oversized and rounded single , and stocky , rippled foliage next to smoother smorgasbord . Together , these element create a gorgeous show that captivates the eye , proving that a garden can be dynamical and captivating without a single flower in bloom .
Freeland once said , “ Creating a arras from grain , shape , and strain — THIS is what drives the garden for me . ” This ism is evident throughout the garden , where one stunning combination play along another , skillfully contrasting the colors and textures of foliage and their size ( seeDesigning with Foliage Over bloom ) . In even the narrowest beds , Freeland habituate oversized and bold foliage , which creates the fantasy of a magnanimous space . In demarcation , the overuse of plants with minuscule leaf in a limited place can actually make an area finger even more confined . Freeland masterfully blend contrasting shapes , grain , and color , result in garden bed that maintain their lulu far longer than those meet only with flowers .
6. THE IMPORTANCE OF PATHWAYS
Flanked by oversized phormiums , the narrow , voluminous path feel versed and enclosed , deepen wonder about what consist in advance . Along the way , unique pieces of Freeland ’s art are strategically placed , append an element of surprise and intrigue to the journey . The path creates a sense of adventure and find that have the garden experience feel like a personal journey into the unknown .
When claver the Tanner ’s garden , it becomes clear that explore the entire space is a journey that begins at the garden gate , lead onto a pebble pathway that piano crunches underfoot . The softly winding way take you through a series of clear-cut , unique areas , each with its own surprises look around every recess . As Freeland says , " A garden should be a serial of events that unfold as you take the air through the pathways . Otherwise , the center get trite if you see too much of one thing at once . " There is no rush down a straight path from point A to point B ; instead , the garden invites you to take a leisurely stroll , offer copious prison term to plunge the beauty and surprise , with occasional glimpses of what lies beyond .
Learn garden pathways .
7. FOCUS ON TRANSITIONAL MOMENTS
A unsubdivided yet graceful greenish trellis stands at the end of the path , dish up as a elegant transition into a newfangled garden way beyond . decorate with climbing vine , it suggest at the surprises ahead . The treillage scar the entrance to a different space and creates a sense of anticipation , drawing visitors through its assailable arch . Framing the position ahead offers a glimpse of the other side , raise the sense of journey and discovery within the garden .
transition play a crucial role in the Tanner ’s garden , enhancing the experience of moving from one garden way to another . As mentioned above , the mildly winding pathways contribute visitors seamlessly through the garden , but for Freeland , it ’s also important to clearly mark the shift key between dissimilar spaces . Each pathway ’s first and stop signal to the visitor that they are leaving one area and entering another . These transitions can take various forms , such as structures built by Freeland that act as gateway or threshold . A changeover can also be as simple as strategically placing a few bold , structural plants to create a visual pool cue , subtly guiding the visitant and preparing them for the next garden experience . These transitional elements provide a clear sense of movement and patterned advance and contribute to the garden ’s overall narration , making each new area feel like a sweet chapter in a story .
